Entrelacé

Entrelacé is a jumping step in which the legs interweave in the air while the body makes a half turn. The name comes from the French for “interlaced,” which captures how the two legs cross paths during the jump. The dancer brushes one leg to the front while bending, or pliéing, on the other, then springs into the air, turns halfway around, and lands on the first leg. Because the legs pass and switch during the turn, the movement looks like a beautiful interlacing of the two legs high in the air. In many schools this same step is known as a jeté entrelacé.

Breaking the Jump Down

The entrelacé begins with a strong brush of one leg to the front and a plié on the supporting leg to gather power. As the dancer pushes off, the front leg lifts and the second leg follows, so that in the air the legs pass one another while the body rotates a half turn. The dancer then lands on the leg that started the movement, often finishing in an arabesque facing the opposite direction from where they began. The turn and the leg switch happen together, which is why timing and coordination matter so much.

Why It Is Challenging

Entrelacé combines several skills at once: a powerful takeoff, a half turn, and a clean switch of the legs, all landing softly on one leg. That mix of jump, rotation, and control makes it a satisfying step to master and a striking one to watch. It builds strength in the legs for takeoff and landing, coordination for the interlacing action, and spatial awareness for turning in the air. Dancers usually meet it after they are comfortable with basic jumps and half turns, since it asks them to blend all of those elements into one flowing movement.